SCANNER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the convenience of a scanner on the occasion of setting a document by making it unnecessary for its user to keep a scanner lid open with his or her hand, by a simple and inexpensive structure. SOLUTION: The scanner 1 is equipped with a document platen 2 for putting a document on, the scanner lid 3 for pressing the document, an image reading apparatus 4 for reading an image of the document, a lid urging spring 8 for urging the scanner lid 3 in its opening direction, a hook 9 for keeping the scanner lid 3 closed, a hook holder 10, and a push button 12 to be operated to open the scanner lid 3. The scanner lid 3 is kept closed resisting the force of the urging spring 8, by engaging the hook 9 with the hook holder 10. If the push button 12 is depressed, the hook holder 10 moves, and the engagement of the hook 9 with the hook holder 10 is released, and the scanner lid 3 is automatically opened by the force of the urging spring 8 and is kept open. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT